“Because if you do not, Mr. Vale’s security firm will cease to exist by tomorrow morning.”

Gabriel let out a short, dry laugh.

“My firm is fully independent, Richard.”

“You do not have the leverage to touch my contracts.”

“I do not,” Richard admitted, adjusting his damp cuffs.

“But Senator Thomas Sterling does.”

The name hung in the air like a heavy weight.

Sterling was the chairman of the state senate’s security oversight committee.

He held the absolute power to review, suspend, and revoke the operating licenses of every private firm in Illinois.

“The senator and I have a long, mutually beneficial history,” my father continued.

“He is already drafting an emergency review of Vale Security’s state contracts.”

“On what grounds?” Gabriel asked, his jaw tightening.

“Irregularities in your federal background clearances,” Vance said, opening the leather folder.

He pulled out a single sheet of paper and held it up for us to see.

“It is amazing what a powerful ally can find when they look closely enough,” Vance said.

My father looked back at me, his eyes narrowing.

“Sign the paper, Claire.”